West Ham United 2-0 Norwich City
Premier League
London Stadium
Wednesday 12 January 2022
Jarrod Bowen’s double secured a 2-0 victory for West Ham United against Norwich City at London Stadium.
Bowen’s cool header on 42 minutes and tap-in just six minutes before the final whistle continued a fine run of form for the form for the forward while taking the Irons up to fourth in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old has now been involved in eight goals in his last six matches in all competitions, and probably could have had more after seeing another effort come back of the cross-bar.
It was almost the dream start at London Stadium for Bowen and the Hammers as Manuel Lanzini found the No29 in space with a well-spotted pass, and Bowen controlled well before firing an effort which was held by Krul at the second attempt.
Lanzini himself got the opportunity to open the scoring after 6 minutes, only for the Argentinian to loft his effort over the bar, before doing the same with half an hour on the clock.
The Irons thought the deserved breakthrough had come on 36 minutes as Aaron Cresswell played a short corner to Bowen. The winger’s cross appeared to evade all contact and go in at the far post, only for the linesman’s flag to be raised. A quick check suggested that Issa Dip had come back from an offside position to deftly head the ball past Krul.
But Bowen would not be denied in the first period and netted his fourth Premier League goal of the campaign just three minutes before the interval, heading home Vladimir Coufal’s lofted cross to establish West Ham’s advantage at the interval.
West Ham’s dominance continued in the second half as Michail Antonio received the ball in a dangerous area from Pablo Fornals. The No9 spun past Norwich defender Grant Hanley but could only send his effort over the bar.
Bowen then had an excellent opportunity to add his second as he was picked out with a wonderful pass from Fornals. The forward took a fine first touch and lifted his shot over the out-running Krul, only to see it bounce away off the crossbar.
Norwich’s chances were severely limited, but the Canaries provided West Ham with a dangerous reminder that the match was not over on 68 minutes. Adam Idah did well to worm his way past three West Ham defenders before firing an effort towards goal. Lukasz Fabianski, on his 300th Premier League outing, tipped the venomous strike onto the post.
The three points were secured on 84 minutes after a fantastic team move from the Hammers. Fornals played substitute Arthur Masuaku down the left. The full-back waited to square across to Bowen, who gratefully turned home with his right foot.
The linesman’s flag was immediately up for offside, but a quick VAR check showed Bowen was played just onside by Max Aarons, confirming his second goal, three points for West Ham, and a place back in the top four of the Premier League.
West Ham United: Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell; Rice (c), Lanzini, Fornals, Vlasic (Masuaku 78), Bowen; Antonio (Yarmolenko 88)
Subs not used: Areola, Johnson, Alese, Ashby, Ekwah, Kral, Okoflex
Goals: Bowen 42, 84,
Norwich City: Krul; Aarons, Gibson, Hanley (c), Williams; Lees-Melou, McLean, Placheta (Dowell 66); Rashica (Tzolis 72); Idah (Rowe 75), Pukki
Subs not used: Gunn, Byram, Kabak, Sorensen, Giannoulis, Gibbs,
Referee: Simon Hooper
Attendance: 59,775